In New Zealand, should cats be killed to save birds?

According to the Wellington-based information website things, New Zealand has 1.2 million pet cats and 41% of households have at least one in their home, one of the highest rates in the world. In addition to these pets, there are also millions of wild cats, most of which have not been spayed. But their large presence in the archipelago would have a disastrous effect on bird groups, starting with the kiwi, the country’s symbol.

Transmission of Forest and Bird Environmental Defense Group Estimates, british daily Watchman to remember Cats are responsible for the deaths of 1.12 million birds every year. In some severe cases, subspecies put some species on the path to extinction.

Interview by Public Radio New Zealand RNZ, The representative of the protection group mentions, for example, the case of the Kia clans, “A type of parrot that used to be ubiquitous in Nelson Lakes National Park” that was ‘I’ll perish by nearly 80% in ten years’. Their nests will be invaded by rats, opossums and … feral cats.

predator poisoning

In 2016, New Zealand legislation to eliminate invasive species caused an uproar. The project plans to rid the island of all its mammals “Predators” By 2050 pesticide poisoning to protect native bird species. Rats, mice, stoats, ferrets, weasels and other opossums were among the target species, “But because cats are so beloved, their elimination has become a taboo topic. It is such a sensitive issue that cats have been excluded from the list of pest species under the Predator Elimination Project.” explain RNZ.

The New Zealand Public Broadcasting Corporation reports that some animal conservation groups will be reluctant to take a stand for eradication, citing animal welfare, but also for fear of a backlash from the public. “cat lovers”. However, they believe that the animal constitutes ‘One of New Zealand’s worst environmental threats’ And that its inhabitants must be organized. But New Zealanders’ views are changing. Agencies responsible for regulating pest populations and trapping opossums, stoats, rodents, and rats are beginning to realize that feral and abandoned cats are undermining much of their work.”

Added to the problem of extermination of stray cats is the problem of legislation on domestic cats. things He asserts that the SPCA, an animal protection organization, is now campaigning for national standards for the rules governing their sterilization.